December looms...

December tomorrow and definitely time to start your Christmas shopping - if you haven't done so already?
What about this excellent book written by a former Trustee at our Museum.
Just email me using the link on the right or post a comment giving your email address and I'll be only too happy to post you a copy - and it's only £15.

Bit of colour...

This orchid just keeps on flowering - maybe it's the special orchid food I keep giving it? We have another two orchids which are also reliable 'flowerers'.


























This is a Clivia (Amaryllidaceae). These grow wild in Madeira and I think this one is Clivia miniata(?).

Car insurance sorted

I've now sorted out the car insurances for the coming year. We have gone with Bell, who are a subsidiary of Admiral (who I've at least heard of!). The compulsory excesses have been reduced from £500 to £60 and I've saved over £100 on the premiums. Plus, we are both covered for business use for when we are doing voluntary driving for the Redbourn Care Group.
Well done CompareTheMarket.com.
It's a bit of a worrying time changing insurance companies as you have to hope you don't make a claim during the time between cancelling one policy and starting the new one. If you then go back to your old company they will treat you as a new customer and charge you more as you have recently made a claim, and the "deal" you have just made with the new company assumes you have not made a recent claim.

Moving Stella - The end of the rainbow

This is our second night's mooring in Oxford - now on the South Oxford Canal. The lock you can see through the bridge is Isis lock which links to the Thames via Sheepwash Channel.














After about three hours cruising we arrived at the end of our journey in Thrupp.
We were greeted by a nice rainbow.














Our last night was spent in the canalside Boat Inn where we enjoyed a very good meal. Next day, we were met at lunchtime by the couple who were taking Stella to Stockton Top Marina which was her final destination for the year.














I hope you have enjoyed your trip!

Moving Stella - 8

This was our mooring on the Thames in Oxford. I had scheduled in a spare day so we had a very enjoyable 'rest day' wandering around the city.














The 'Head of the River' pub. Boring Fullers place so we didn't bother going in.














Christchurch college.

Moving Stella - 7

This is the bridge at Clifton Hampden which is a very nice little village.
The local landowner allows mooring on his land and gives the fees to the local school. We had to walk up to the Post Office to pay our dues, but as it was in a good cause, we didn't mind - plus, our receipt was in the form of a leaflet all about the village which was interesting in itself. All for £3 - good value!















This is The Plough pub which has recently reopened as a Chinese restaurant, where we had a very good, sensibly priced meal.














Unusual house.

Thames interruption No.2

Apologies...I should have posted this yesterday - you'll see why.
This is the Redbourn War Memorial.














This is the Remembrance Day exhibition which I have been compiling over the last many months.
There are now three folders with information about the Redbourn men who were lost in WW1 and WW2.














The video which is playing is a compilation of "Mr Heather's" films of the Remembrance Day parades from 1949, 1950 and 1951. The display case contains medals and a wallet which was given to all servicemen who returned to Redbourn, with the village's thanks.














Luckily, two days before the exhibition, I was offered the tin helmet and gas mask shown below, which added a lot to my display - well, I thought so anyway!














Back to The Thames next...

Moving Stella - 6

This is Goring where we were greeted by the local bellringers attempting a quarter peal, which SWMBO was impressed with.

Interruption - Redbourn's firework display finale

Moving Stella - 5

Keep fit for the 'not so young' - what a good idea.














A Thames lock and weir.

Moving Stella - 4

This is the last (or first) lock on Kennet & Avon canal which is Blake's Lock. The lockie was taking a break so we operated it ourselves - very easy!














Here we are moored on the posh side of the Thames in Caversham. The opposite side you can see is Reading.














This strangely named bowls club is on Fry's Island.













Caversham Bridge on Sunday morning.

Moving Stella - 3

This is the slightly surreal trip through the centre of the Reading shopping area by narrowboat. We had a very calm trip but it can apparently be rather like white water rafting when the River Kennet is in full flow. For this reason, the section is controlled by traffic lights!

Moving Stella - 2

Nearing Reading on the K & A canal.
Wartime pillbox - one of many along the way.














Very unusual turf sided lock